Improving the employability of young people in Kosovo

Project description

Title: Training for the labour market “Fit for Jobs”
Commissioned by: German Federal Ministry for Economic Development and Cooperation (BMZ
Country: Kosovo
Lead executing agency: Ministry of Education, Science, Technology and Innovation, Ministry of Finance, Labour and Transfer
Overall term: 2021 to 2024

Context

The youth unemployment rate stands at 48.9 per cent. The education system lacks the structure that provides young people with vital skills and prepares them for the labour market. Kosovo’s participation in the 2015 and 2018 PISA studies has confirmed deficiencies in the education system and has shown that Kosovar students lack adequate skills needed for the labour market. Insufficient employment opportunity of Kosovar youth causes a shortage of skilled labour and undermines the chances for economic growth in Kosovo. Relevant institutions are building their capacity at all levels of the education sector too slowly to achieve the development goals of the Kosovar Government and to converge with European standards in terms of inclusive and quality education.

Objective

The employability of Kosovar youth is improved.

Approach

Fit for Jobs cooperates with Kosovo’s Ministry of Education, Science, Technology and Innovation (MESTI) and the Ministry of Finance, Labour and Transfers (MFLT). It works on improving career guidance, improving the quality of vocational education and training (VET) as well as on employment promotion through a stronger orientation of trainings towards the needs of the labour market.

The project applies a three-level approach. At the individual level, specialists and managers of selected schools are trained to cooperate with partner enterprises and institutions in order to provide contact persons for young people. At the organisational level, school development plans are being established, digital competencies are being improved and curricula at lower secondary and vocational schools are being adapted to the needs of the labour market..

On institutional level, the project also supports the development of strategies and laws to institutionalise the promotion of young workers and encourages concrete implementation in exchange with governmental and non-governmental institutions.

Last update: September 2021